U.S. patent number 5,743,216 [Application Number 08/588,387] was granted by the patent office on 1998-04-28 for combined small animal harness and lead.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Coastal Pet Products, Inc.. Invention is credited to Robert C. Holt, Jr..
United States Patent |
5,743,216 |
Holt, Jr. |
April 28, 1998 |
Combined small animal harness and lead
Abstract
A combined harness and lead (10) for use in restraining and
controlling an animal has a cord member (11) which defines a lead
portion (12) and a harness portion (14). The harness portion (14)
includes a neck loop (35) and a body loop (36) which may be
selectively adjusted by way of an adjustment slide (15). A floating
retaining slide (16) further defines the neck loop (35) and body
loop (36). The adjustment slide (15) clampingly engages the cord
member (11) so as to maintain said harness portion (14) in position
on the animal's body.
Inventors: |
Holt, Jr.; Robert C. (North
Canton, OH) |
Assignee: |
Coastal Pet Products, Inc.
(Alliance, OH)
|
Family
ID: |
24353637 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/588,387 |
Filed: |
January 18, 1996 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
119/793;
119/863 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01K
27/002 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A01K
27/00 (20060101); A01K 027/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;119/792,793,770,856,907,863 ;24/115G,115H |
Other References
Classic Products advertisement, 2 pages, 1992. .
EA Young Co., Ltd. advertisement, 3 pages, undated. .
Four Paws Products, Ltd. advertisement, 5 pages, undated. .
R.D. Symonds Co. advertisement "Handy Harness", 2 pages, undated.
.
Hamilton Products advertisement, 2 pages, undated. .
Hamilton Products advertisement "Deluxe Ferret Harness", 1 page,
1996. .
Marshall Pet Products advertisement, Pet age Boutique Magique, 2
pages, Oct. 1995. .
Premier Pet Products, Inc. advertisement, 2 pages, Mar. 1994. .
Pronix Industries Inc. advertisement, 2 pages, undated. .
Rolf C. Hagen (U.S.A.) Cor. advertisement, 4 pages, undated. .
T-Rex (Trade Name of Ocean Nutrition Corporation) advertisement, 3
pages, undated. .
Vo-Toys, Incorporated advertisement, 2 pages, undated..
|
Primary Examiner: Mancene; Gene
Assistant Examiner: Abbott; Yvonne R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Renner, Kenner, Greive, Bobak,
Taylor & Weber
Claims
I claim:
1. An animal restraint and control device comprising harness means
adapted to fit on the body of an animal, said harness means
including a cord member defining a neck loop adapted to be fitted
around the animal's neck and a body loop adapted to be fitted
around the animal's midsection, lead means combined with said
harness means for controlling and restraining the animal, and
adjustment means associated with said harness means for quickly and
securely adjusting said harness means around the animal's body,
said adjustment means including a floating retaining slide between
said neck loop and said body loop, and an adjustment slide engaging
said cord member between said neck loop and said body loop, said
adjustment slide including means for receiving said cord member
which has means for selectively clamping said cord member therein,
a portion of said cord member being disposed on the opposite side
of said adjustment slide from said body loop, said lead means being
formed by said portion.
2. An animal restraint and control device according to claim 1,
wherein said lead means includes a hand loop therein.
3. An animal restraint and control device according to claim 1,
wherein the size of said neck loop and said body loop may be
selectively adjusted by moving said cord member relative to said
adjustment slide.
4. An animal restraint and control device comprising harness means
adapted to fit on the body of an animal, said harness means
including a cord member defining a neck loop adapted to be fitted
around the animal's neck and a body loop adapted to be fitted
around the animal's midsection, lead means combined with said
harness means for controlling and restraining the animal, and
adjustment means associated with said harness means for quickly and
securely adjusting said harness means around the animal's body,
said adjustment means including an adjustment slide engaging said
cord member between said neck loop and said body loop, said
adjustment slide including means for receiving said cord member,
said means for receiving having means for selectively clamping said
cord member therein, said means for receiving said cord member
including a pair of opposed mating protrusions each having an
aperture therein, and means for biasing said protrusions away from
one another such that said apertures may be concentrically aligned
when a force is exerted on said adjustment slide sufficient to
overcome said means for biasing.
5. An animal restraint and control device according to claim 4,
wherein said cord member passes through said apertures and is
selectively clampingly engaged therein.
6. An improved animal restraint and control device having a harness
portion combined with a lead portion, the improvement comprising a
cord member defining the harness portion and the lead portion, said
cord member forming a neck loop and a body loop in the harness
portion, a floating retaining slide between said neck loop and said
body loop, and an adjustment slide located at the junction of the
harness portion and the lead portion for quickly adjusting and
securely maintaining the harness portion on the animal's body, a
portion of said cord member being disposed on the opposite side of
said adjustment slide from said body loop, said lead portion being
formed by said portion of said cord member.
7. An improved animal restraint and control device according to
claim 6, wherein the lead portion includes a hand loop therein.
8. An improved animal restraint and control device according to
claim 6, wherein said adjustment slide includes means for receiving
said cord member, said means for receiving having means for
selectively clamping said cord member therein.
9. An improved animal restraint and control device according to
claim 8, wherein the size of said neck loop and said body loop may
be selectively adjusted by moving said cord member relative to said
adjustment slide.
10. An improved animal restraint and control device having a
harness portion combined with a lead portion, the improvement
comprising a cord member defining the harness portion and the lead
portion, said cord member forming a neck loop and a body loop in
the harness portion, and an adjustment slide located at the
junction of the harness portion and the lead portion for quickly
adjusting and securely maintaining the harness portion on the
animal's body, wherein said adjustment slide includes means for
receiving said cord member which includes a pair of opposed mating
protrusions each having an aperture therein, and means for biasing
said protrusions away from one another such that said apertures may
be concentrically aligned when a force is exerted on said
adjustment slide sufficient to overcome said means for biasing.
11. An improved animal restraint and control device according to
claim 10, wherein said cord member passes through said apertures
and is selectively clampingly engaged therein.
12. A combined harness and lead for controlling and restraining an
animal comprising a cord member defining a harness portion and a
lead portion, said harness portion having a neck loop and a body
loop, said lead portion having a hand loop, an adjustment slide
engaging said cord member between said neck loop and said body
loop, said adjustment slide including means for receiving said cord
member, said means for receiving having means for selectively
clamping said cord member therein, said means for selectively
clamping said cord member including a pair of opposed mating
protrusions each having an aperture therein, and means for biasing
said protrusions away from one another such that said apertures may
be concentrically aligned when a force is exerted on said
adjustment slide sufficient to overcome said means for biasing,
said cord member passing through said apertures and being
selectively clampingly engaged therein, the size of said neck loop
and said body loop being selectively adjustable by moving said cord
member relative to said adjustment slide, said harness portion
further including a retaining slide between said neck loop and said
body loop.
13. A combined harness and lead according to claim 12, wherein the
lead portion is formed by the portion of said cord member disposed
on the opposite side of said adjustment slide from said body loop.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to animal harnesses and leads, for example
of the type used for restraining domestic pets. More particularly,
this invention relates to a combined animal harness and lead
particularly suitable for small animals including, but not limited
to cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets and iguanas. Specifically,
the invention relates to such a combined harness and lead which is
self-adjusting and non-restrictive, in that it will not slip and
allow the neck or girth to become excessively tight.
BACKGROUND ART
For many years it has been known to use harnesses and leads on
domestic pets, such as dogs, for the purpose of restraining or
controlling the animal. More recently, it has been known to use
similar harnesses for smaller animals such as rabbits, ferrets,
guinea pigs, and iguanas. Such previously known harnesses have
included a variety of designs ranging from simple neck collars to
more elaborate configurations having a plurality of loops and/or
fitted vest-like straps.
A primary disadvantage of designs employing simple neck collars or
loops is the inability of the device to remain properly fitted to
the animal, particularly when the animal is struggling against the
harness or lead. Frequently the animal will become entangled in the
harness or the harness will simply loosen to the point where the
animal can easily free itself. It has also been known for the
harness to tighten at the neck and/or girth in response to pulling
or struggling on the part of the animal. This tightening is
extremely undesirable in that it is at best uncomfortable for the
animal and at worst dangerous.
While more elaborate designs have overcome some of the drawbacks of
the simpler designs, such have presented new drawbacks relating to
adjustability and/or ease of use. Particularly, these designs are
frequently quite difficult to fit properly on the animal due to the
numerous loops and/or slides which must be adjusted. Those designs
having simplified adjustment typically lack the versatility of
being capable of fitting animals of different shapes and sizes.
Accordingly, it is desirable to obtain a combined harness and lead
for small animals which is easy to use and adaptable for use with
animals of various shapes and sizes while being safe and secure in
restraining the animal.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
It is thus a primary object of the invention to provide a combined
harness and lead for restraining small animals such as eats, guinea
pigs, ferrets, rabbits and iguanas.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a combined
harness and lead, as above, which is effective to restrain the
animal both securely and safely.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
combined harness and lead, as above, which is self-adjusting and
adaptable for use with animals of different shapes or sizes.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a
combined harness and lead, as above, which is non-restrictive in
that it will not slip and allow the neck or girth to become
excessively tight.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a
combined harness and lead, as above, which is both easy to use and
easy to manufacture using known techniques and materials.
These and other objects of the present invention, which will become
apparent from the description to follow, are accomplished by the
improvements hereinafter described and claimed.
In general, an animal restraint and control device includes a
harness member adapted to fit on the body of an animal and a lead
combined with the harness member for controlling and restraining
the animal. An adjustment device associated with the harness member
enables the harness member to be quickly and securely adjusted
around the animal's body.
More specifically, a combined harness and lead for controlling and
restraining an animal includes a cord member defining a harness
portion and a lead portion. The harness portion includes a neck
loop and a body loop and the lead portion includes a hand loop. An
adjustment slide engages the cord member between the neck loop and
the body loop and includes means for receiving the cord member. The
means for receiving has means for selectively clamping the cord
member therein and includes a pair of opposed mating protrusions
each having an aperture therein and means for biasing the
protrusions away from one another such that the apertures may be
concentrically aligned when a force is exerted on the adjustment
slide sufficient to overcome the means for biasing. The cord member
passes through the apertures and is selectively clampingly engaged
therein. The size of the neck loop and the body loop is thus
selectively adjustable by moving the cord member relative to the
adjustment slide. The harness portion further includes a floating
retaining slide between the neck loop and the body loop.
A preferred exemplary device incorporating the concepts of the
present invention is shown by way of example in the accompanying
drawings without attempting to show all the various forms and
modifications in which the invention might be embodied, the
invention being measured by the appended claims and not by the
details of the specification.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the combined harness and lead
according to the concepts of the invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the adjustment slide according
to the invention, in an unactuated state.
FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but depicting the adjustment
slide in engagement with the harness cord.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the device taken
along the line 4--4 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the combined harness and lead
according to the invention fitted on a ferret.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
A combined animal harness and lead, generally indicated by the
numeral 10 in the drawings, includes a length of cord 11 which
generally defines a lead portion generally indicated by the numeral
12 and a harness portion generally indicated by the numeral 14. As
is perhaps best shown in FIG. 1, lead portion 12 and harness
portion 14 further include an adjustment slide 15, a retaining
slide 18A, 18B and 18C, and a plurality of crimp clasps 18. While
it is contemplated that cord member 11 might well be in the form of
a cord having a generally circular cross-section as shown, and be
manufactured from a nylon or other appropriate material, it is also
contemplated that the member 11 might be in the form of braided
nylon rope, nylon webbing or any number of other appropriate styles
and/or materials. Thus, the term cord as used herein is used for
convenience to refer to any such member, and should not be
construed so as to limit the invention to the specific design
shown.
With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, adjustment slide 15 has a
continuous wall portion 19, preferably formed from a resilient
plastic or other suitable material into a generally elongated
hexagonal shape. Opposing sides 20A and 20B of wall 19 are oriented
generally parallel to one another, and for reasons which will
become apparent, include a plurality of fluted ridges 22 on the
outer surface 23 thereof.
On the inner surfaces 24 of opposed sides 20A and 20B are an
opposed pair of mating protrusions 26 and 27. Specifically, a male
protrusion 26 extends inwardly from side 20A, while a female
protrusion 27 extends inwardly from side 20B. Female protrusion 27
includes a recess 28 adapted to receive male protrusion 26.
Accordingly, recess 28 is of a slightly larger dimension than male
protrusion 26. Both protrusions 26 and 27 include a generally
circular aperture 30 therein. As shown male protrusion 26 is
slidingly disposed within recess 28 such that when compressive
force is exerted on adjustment slide 15 at sides 20A and 20B, wall
19 will flex so as to translate male protrusion 26 slidingly within
recess 28 of female protrusion 27. At the point where adjustment
slide 15 is substantially fully compressed, apertures 30 become
concentrically aligned as shown in FIG. 3. Conversely when
compressive force on adjustment slide 15 is relieved, sides 20A and
20B flex outwardly away from one another so as to cause male
protrusion 26 to translate with respect to female protrusion 27
back to the locking state depicted in FIG. 2, wherein apertures 30
are no longer concentrically aligned. It should now be apparent
that fluted ridges 22 are provided on adjustment slide 15 so as to
aid in gripping and conmpressing wall 19 of slide 15. While device
10 has been described herein with reference to the particular
structure of adjustment slide 15 it is contemplated that adjustment
slide 15 may be in the form of any number of commercially available
material locks such as use a spring bias pressure to maintain the
material in place.
The novel harness and lead combination 10 is assembled as shown in
FIG. 1. While it will be recognized that a number of different
approaches to assembling the device are possible, the approach
described herein has been employed for clarity. In such an
approach, one end of continuous cord 11 is threaded through one end
of adjustment slide 15 and cord 11 is doubled-back on itself before
being secured with crimp clasp 18A. It should be recognized that
means other than crimp clasps 18A, 18B and 18C may be utilized to
secure cord 11 to itself. Such means could include stitching,
tacking, heat sealing, or any other appropriate means. With crimp
clasp 18A secured to cord 11, an eyelet 31 is formed in cord 11 at
the junction with adjustment slide 15. The ends 32A and 32B of cord
11 are next threaded through retaining slide 16 as shown in FIG. 4.
Cord portions 11A and 11B are thus formed between slide 15 and
slide 16. Ends 32A and 32B are then threaded through apertures 30
of adjustment slide 15. This is accomplished by compressing wall 19
of slide 15 at sides 20A and 20B such that protrusions 26 and 27
are slidingly engaged and apertures 30 are concentrically aligned.
With apertures 30 in concentric alignment, threading of cord 11 is
facilitated. Cord portions 11C and 11D are accordingly formed
between slide 16 and slide 15. Lead portion 12 is formed in one of
two ways. In one way, cord 11 is doubled-back upon itself after
being threaded through slide 15 as previously described, but is
adjusted such that cord portion extends substantially further than
cord portion 11F. Thus, when end 32B is secured to cord 11 with
crimp clasp 18B the cord portion 11E which extends beyond clasp 18B
defines lead portion 12. Alternatively, it is contemplated that
both ends 32A and 32B might be terminated at a swivel (not shown),
at the junction of harness portion 14 and lead portion 12 adjacent
to crimp clasp 18B while a separate length of cord also engages the
swivel, thereby forming lead portion 12. Those skilled in the art
will recognize that the swivel may be desirable to prevent twisting
or tangling of the device 10. In either scenario it is desirable to
again double-back cord 11 of lead portion 12 and secure it to
itself using crimp clasp 18C, as shown in FIG. 5, so as to form a
hand loop 34.
With cord 11 threaded and secured as described above, the combined
harness and lead 10 is assembled and ready to be fitted to an
animal. As is perhaps best shown in FIG. 1, harness portion 14 is
formed so as to have of a neck loop 35 and a body loop 36. Neck
loop 35 is defined by cord portions 11A and 11B between clasp 18A
and retaining slide 16, while body loop 36 is defined by cord
portions 11C and 11D between retaining slide 16 and adjustment
slide 15. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the size of
either loop 35 or 36 is directly dependent on the position of
slides 15 and 16 with respect to cord 11. Accordingly, the fit of
combined harness and lead 10 may be adjusted by selective
positioning of slides 15 and 16 relative to cord 11. While it is
possible to manually position retaining slide 16 so as to adjust
the size of loops 35 and 36, it should be recognized that slide 16
is substantially self-positioning in that it will float in response
to a widening of the, loops while the harness is being fitted on an
animal.
Device 10 may be fitted on an animal as depicted in FIG. 5 by
adjusting the size of loops 35 or 36 such that they may be readily
passed over the animal's head. After both loops 35 and 36 have been
placed over the animals head, body loop 36 may be manipulated
relative to the animal's forelegs such that loop 36 is disposed
around the animal's midsection just behind the forelegs. Device 10
should further be adjusted such that adjustment slide 15 is located
on the animal's back substantially between the animal's shoulders
and retaining slide 16 is located on the animal's breast
substantially between the animal's forelegs. Adjustment of device
10 is primarily accomplished by moving adjustment slide 15 so that
loops 35 and 36 are fitted snugly around the animal's neck and
midsection respectively. This is facilitated by actuating slide 15
so that apertures 30 are concentrically aligned, thereby allowing
cord 11 freely to pass therethrough. When device 10 has been snugly
secured, adjustment slide 15 may be allowed to return to the
unactuated state wherein cord 11 is clampingly engaged in apertures
30 as shown in FIG. 2. A bias pressure is produced as a result of
the resilient plastic adjustment slide tending to return to its
original shape after being compressed. This bias pressure tends to
force apertures 30 out of alignment thereby to frictionally
engaging cord 11 so as to prevent slipping of slide 15 during use.
Thus, it can be seen that the combined harness and lead according
to the invention serves to securely restrain small animals while
being simple and safe to use.
The above-described device thus accomplishes the objects of the
present invention and otherwise improves the art.
* * * * *